THE LETTERS OF PLINY
Letter XVI : To Tacitus
Your request that I should send you an account of my uncle's death, in order to transmite a more exact relation of it to posterity, deserves my acknowledgments ; for, if this accident shall be celebrated by your pen, the glory of it, I am well assured, will be rendered forever illustrious. And notwithstanding he perished by a misfortune, which, as it involved the most beutifull country in ruins, and destroyed so many populous cities, seems to promise him an everlasting remembrance ; notwithstanding he has himself composed many and lasting works; yet I am pursuaded, the mention of him in your immortal writtings, will greatly contribute to render his name immortal.Happy i esteem those to be to whom provision of the gods has been granted either to do such actions as are worthy of being relatedor to relate them in a manner worthy of being read ; but perticularly happy are they who are blessed with both of these uncommon talents : in the number of which my uncle, as his own writtings and your history will evidently prove, may justly be ranked.